Two Questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>Ok I have 2 completely unrelated questions:</p>

<li><p>Are shoe inserts (arch supports) allowed during plebe summer? I would put them in my running shoes that I am wearing to I-Day.</p></li>
<li><p>What type of options are available for a master’s degree while on active duty. I know it is highly recommended and sometimes required if one desires a command, but how would he/she go about doing this? I’m guessing the Naval Postgraduate School is one of the more popular routes, but what about law school (NOT to go JAG but just for the sake of earning postgrad) or another unrelated (to the navy) subject area?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>VGEP is a program offered at the Academy to attend graduate school concurrently with your last semester at USNA and then you earn your master's degree within 7 months of commissioning. But otherwise on active duty there is the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College. I believe there is one more way, but I don't know the specifics.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, IGEP is a program, but I don't know how that works exactly.</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
1. Are shoe inserts (arch supports) allowed during plebe summer? I would put them in my running shoes that I am wearing to I-Day.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I understand these are allowed.</p>

<p>
[quote]
2. What type of options are available for a master's degree while on active duty. I know it is highly recommended and sometimes required if one desires a command, but how would he/she go about doing this? I'm guessing the Naval Postgraduate School is one of the more popular routes, but what about law school (NOT to go JAG but just for the sake of earning postgrad) or another unrelated (to the navy) subject area?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It sounds as if you're asking about Masters' programs well after you've graduated. Yes, it's generally true that, to be promoted to O-6 (and maybe O-5), you need a graduate degree. And, yes, NPS is one way to go about it. </p>

<p>Much depends on your warfare community. For some (i.e., submarines), it is important to get a Masters' degree in a technical field. This typically will require full-time attendance. Thus, you either go to NPS or to a civilian school chosen by the Navy. Other communities may not care as much what your degree is in and some people get a Masters' in things like Personnel Administration by attending a school (many bases have extensions of national schools right there) at night, etc. </p>

<p>I believe that attendance at War College and other service schools will earn you a Masters' degree or carry the same weight with a promotion board.</p>

<p>It is VERY hard to attend law school while you're on active duty (other than through the Navy program which is ONLY for very junior officers (less than 6 years on active duty)). You therefore have to do it at night. First, relatively few law schools have night programs (Georgetown is one well regarded school that does). Second, it typically takes four years, and I believe usually requires spending a summer or a semester going full-time. Very few people in the USN are stationed where there is a night-time law school, can be sure they'll be there for four years, and have sufficient flexibility in their Navy schedule to attend class.</p>

<p>Most that I know who have done it are either on their last tour before retirement and/or are junior officers who've made it clear they're getting out. And all intend to practice law. You really can't just go to law school while on active duty for the "experience of it." I'm sure there is an exception here or there but I've never heard of anyone doing this.</p>

4

<p>Another option is the tuition assistance program. The Marine Corps/Navy pays up to $250 per credit for graduate education up to a maximum of about $4500 per fiscal year. You will owe 2 years at the conclusion of the last class they pay for however the 2 years are served concurrently with your contract. What this means is as long as you have at least two years left before your EAS (End of active service) you will not owe anything back for the money you receive. </p>

<p>This is a great program to help pay for your graduate degree and is also a great option for your enlisted Marines or Sailors to earn their bachlors or graduate degree. It is a program that is not well promoted and a good way to take care of your people</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
1. Are shoe inserts (arch supports) allowed during plebe summer? I would put them in my running shoes that I am wearing to I-Day.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Show up on I-Day with a good pair of running shoes. If you don't already have them spend them money on a good pair of Asics Gels or equivalent. Wear them enough to break them in and make sure they fit well. </p>

<p>If you haven't already checked make sure the shoes you choose are designed to support your specific ankle motion ie; pronation, neutral or supination. The right shoes will can make a huge difference in your foot comfort and how well your legs hold up during the summer. You will be running a lot and much of it will be on hard surfaces. Once you have an understanding of your ankle motion you can use the shoe manufacturers web sites (Asics has a good one) to check which shoes are designed for your particular requirements. </p>

<p>Bring the inserts for your other shoes; boots etc.</p>

6

<p>FYI-a good running store can help you determine what type of ankle motion you have. You will pay a bit more, but it's worth it for the fit. The store in our area had DS walk barefoot, then measured sitting and standing, discussed what type of running he'd be doing. After DS mentioned "academy" he said he'd had 4 others in that week, and did he have color requirements, etc. After bringing out his suggestions, he laced him up and sent him outside to run on the pavement...and went with him to watch him run. He then brought out a few other pairs to try on, and repeated the process. It was not a quick pop into a shoe store, and the shoes were not cheap; but you get what you pay for, including the fit. He will send subsequent shoes directly to the academy.</p>

7

<p>mom3boys
Where did you shop? I'm in the same area and could use that type of evaluation Thanks.</p>

8

<p>In regards to post-graduate education there are many options. Most Commanding Officers understand the benefit of/ and advocate sending their J.O's to graduate school after their first or second sea duty. My husband (submariner) applied to and was accepted to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy where he turned a one-year masters program into a two-year Phd in International Relations. He did this between his Department Head and XO tour. Not only was the tuition taken care of by the Navy but he still received his full salary plus his nuclear bonus. He owed an extra 4 years to the Navy but he knew he would be staying in at least through Command so the committment was the easiest part. The pat answer often is that you have to do post-graduate work in a technical field but scores of Naval officers each year are accepted to Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Georgetown etc. for a mariad of programs from finance to math; international relations to languages. One thing that helps is to apply to the school and take all the necessary tests (GRE, GMAT, LSAT etc), be accepted and then present it to the navy as a fait accompli.</p>

9

<p>sdnavymom1607: good post and info. However, Commanding Officers do not make the decisions on who goes to graduate school. These decisions are made by the detailers, once you have been identified as quailfied for graduate school (I am sure it is a very high selection rate). The Commanding Officers do write the Fitness Reports that will enable you to continue your career. As stated, there are many graduate education programs, and not just technical ones. As mentioned the Fletcher School of Dipomacy is a great program, as is the SWO MBA program. Selection to these programs as well as others are based on great performance. Do that first and then worry about graduate school.</p>